Lymphatic malformations (LM) are congenital vascular malformations resulting from dysregulated growth of lymphatic vessels. LM can cause difficulty in breathing, swallowing, or eating, and in rare cases, infection or death. LM are associated with postzygotic somatic mutations in PIK3CA, which encodes for the catalytic subunit of PI3K and regulates cell growth and proliferation. Three hotspot mutations cause the majority of LM: p.E545K, p.E542K, and p.H1047R. These mutations occur at very low level in the affected tissue; usually at <10% variant allele fraction (VAF) which makes diagnosis challenging. We hypothesize that variant allele fraction (VAF) differs throughout the vascular malformation and will correlate with location in the lesion. We used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction to detect PIK3CA mutations in 8 LM subjects with 95 samples including lesion, muscle, skin, and fat. We then mapped the VAF to magnetic resonance imaging to assess genetic heterogeneity by sample location. Globally, no sample had a VAF greater than 10% indicating that assaying multiple samples does not increase the observed VAF compared to other studies where one sample was assayed. Within patients, VAF varies within the lesion, ranging from undetectable to 10%. Non-lesion tissue, including skin, and most muscle samples, had no mutation detected. All four fat samples and two muscle samples were positive for mutation with VAF <2%. We did not identify any correlations between VAF level and location within the lesion. Though we didn’t identify a correlation between VAF and location in our data, these findings will be used for further analysis including understanding how cell type composition within the samples correlates with VAF. Our goal is that this dataset will help us explore the development of LM and eventually provide information useful for the advancement of targeted therapies for future pediatric patients.

The spread of grasslands 26-22 million years ago has been linked to global climate changes in the late Oligocene to early Miocene. The pattern of vegetation change was established analyzing assemblages of microscopic plant silica (phytoliths) extracted from sediment samples from the Central Great Plains of North America. It is often presumed that as open-habitat grasses became abundant, vegetation structure concurrently transitioned from closed forests to open landscapes. However, recent work in the Cenozoic of Patagonia has pointed to a decoupling of grass dominance and habitat openness, each independently driven by climatic conditions. We set out to test if a similar decoupling occurred in the Central Great Plains by means of an a-taxonomic phytolith proxy using phytoliths produced in non-grass epidermal cells. Work in modern plants and soil assemblages has shown that the size and degree of undulation in these phytoliths (quantified by, respectively, Phytolith Area, PA, and the Phytolith Undulation Index, PUI) is correlated with the amount of light in the environment, reflecting habitat openness (measured as Leaf Area Index, LAI). We measure the PA and PUI of phytolith samples from Nebraska, dating 35 to 17 Ma, to reconstruct the regional LAI over time and place time constraints on the opening of habitats. By comparing this timeline to that of the rise to dominance of grasses, we hope to better understand changing vegetation and linked climatic conditions in Cenozoic North America.

Humanity is on the verge of a biotechnological epoch. What this will entail is a union of opposites: biological humans merging with artificial machines. Unity of opposites, or non-duality, is a timeless theme, one that is not only found in the ancient teachings of Heraclitus or in Greek mythology, but also in that of the I-Ching, and the Tao Te Ching. The yin-yang symbol is one of the earliest visual depictions of this. Support for a unified theory of the universe is now being widely embraced; hence the shift from the old Standard Model of particle physics to the new Core Theory. Modern interpretation of what Laozi referred to as, Tao, suggests a process that is characteristic of a double torus, with a cuboctahedron at its heart. Such a synergic principle would not only be observable in the nature of matter, but also in that of the mind. It is of no coincidence that humanity is beginning to integrate with arguably its finest of achievements—tools. Synergic inquiry is the method by which this literature review will be conducted, so as to build the argument that all things are interdependently connected, distinguishable sub-systems of a larger system. This implies that the convergence of human and machine is simply the beginning of a brand new, distinguishable part in that whole. The study of synergetics, in its wider applications, proves to be an invaluable tool to understand the macrocosm and microcosm relationship, and it will no doubt contribute greatly to the symbiotic relationship between nanotechnology and molecular biology, as humanity seeks to build a better world.

 Seed dispersal is a crucial phase of plant lifecycles. Effective dispersal is important to the ecosystem as a whole because it affects composition of the community, ecological succession, and response to climate change. Given the importance of seed dispersal, understanding the factors that contribute to the evolution of varied dispersal modes and promote convergence on specific dispersal strategies is particularly important to understanding grass ecology because it may allow us to understand the relationship between dispersal mode and habitat. In this study, we are interested in dispersal modes within the onion grasses (Melica), a small genus of perennial grasses, primarily distributed in temperate regions. The onion grasses are found in a wide variety of habitats and possess a remarkable diversity of seed dispersal strategies. These traits make them a useful case study for better understanding the factors that influence the evolution of dispersal strategies in grasses. We are testing the hypothesis that evolution in traits associated with seed dispersal is correlated with changes in habitat. In particular, we hypothesize that the evolution of wind dispersed seeds follows transitions into open habitats. Seed dispersal structures (diaspores) were collected from 46 grass species (35 Melica and 11 outgroup). To assess wind dispersal potential, we quantify falling velocity by filming seed descent at 1000 fps. Lower falling velocities are associated with higher wind dispersal potential. Diaspores were photographed and the images were used to measure surface roughness, which is associated with adhesive dispersal potential. These data, along with diaspore mass and plant height, were mapped onto the evolutionary tree of the onion grasses. We then ran tests of correlated evolution between seed dispersal traits and habitat type. Initial results indicate that convergence upon wind dispersal may be in part driven by convergence upon disturbed habitat types.

Disability research in the Black community is limited nationally and absent for Seattle area residents. This study is an effort to center the narratives of Black Seattle area residents who live with a disability and to identify commonalities among these individuals. This study used qualitative interviews (n=5) as the methodology to identify three key themes across the study participants' lives. The themes identified are: (1) Fear and Shame, (2) Resilience, and (3) Consequences. Based on disability critical race theory, my analysis aimed to understand how participants navigate dominant society with intersecting identities. I found that they often experience adverse outcomes which continue to remain invisible and unacknowledged throughout political, social, and judicial realms of society. This study illuminates the need for state institutions and nonprofits that serve clients with disabilities to expand their reach to include more people of color. Additional research on outcomes experienced by African Americans with disability is needed to combat the institutional invisibility that this population faces.